UTAH CHAPTER

When my husband and I purchased our INEOS Grenadier from Warner INEOS Grenadier more than two years ago, he started building it up with fun things like a roof rack, drawers and new tires. Then came the heavy duty recovery gear. Are we planning to disappear into the wilderness or preparing for the apocalypse? 

Fast forward through two years of adventures, and while I’ve done my fair share of dirt-driving, I knew I was only scratching the surface of what this beast could actually do. So, when the Utah Grenadier Owner’s Club announced a women-only training event, I was all in. Learning the ropes from the legend himself and founder of the International 4WD Trainers Association, Bill Burke, alongside a crew of fellow Grenadier-loving gals? Sign me up!

The two-day event was held at Wasatch State Park near Midway, Utah and Soldier Hollow, the site of the 2002 Olympics Cross-Country Skiing and Biathlon events. 

Day one kicked off with a "meet and greet" with the eight women and our trucks. Our 360-degree vehicle overview, led by Helene Raynaud, gave us an understanding of what’s under the hood and what to look for before hitting the trail. Back in the classroom, Bill took us deep into the topics of differentials, lockers, and shocks, using actual parts to show us the magic that happens when we flip those switches and shift into low gear.

After lunch, the real fun began. We aired down, dialed into channel 18, and set off in our convoy. Mother Nature clearly wanted to test our new knowledge because, within 30 minutes, the sky opened up. Suddenly, we weren't just off-roading; we were mud wrestling. In the desert, mud is a rare guest, so navigating slick tires on a slicker surface was the ultimate test. Trees hugged the trail tight as we channeled Bill’s golden rule: "Drive as slow as possible, but as fast as necessary."

Just when we thought the day was wrapping up, the trail threw us a curveball. One truck slid toward the edge of the trail, tilting at a discomforting angle where it seemed only a few brave young Aspen trees were keeping it from sliding further. It was the perfect teaching moment! Bill kept us cool, explaining that a 19-degree roll looks way scarier than it actually is. We assessed, we didn't panic, and we broke out the traction boards to help her grip her way back to safety.